WEBVTT CAROLE MCCAY'S HOME IN HINESBURG, ELECTRICIANS ARE INSTALLING A "TESLA POWERWALL" NAT IT'S A SOPHISTICATED BATTERY, THE SIZE OF A LARGE SUITCASE -- THAT WILL POW THIS HOME IN CASE OF AN OUTAGE SOLAR PANELS/EXTERIO R IT ALSO STORES ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY THE SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF -- WHICH HELPS HER LOCAL UTILITY. REPORTER: HOW MUCH IS YOUR MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILL? ZERO. SINCE I HAD SOLAR PANELS PUT IN I HAVEN'T PAID AN ELECTRIC BILL. 45:41 THE BATTERY MEANS SHE'LL LIGHT GOES ON NEVER BE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AGAIN. TOM BERRY/ VP, SUNCOMMON, WATERBURY TC627 THIS IS WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE. SOLAR ON THE ROOF. BATTERY IN THE HOME. THE POWER THAT CAROL IS PRODUCING AND USING IS LOCALLY SOURCED, CLEAN AND INDEPENDENT 642 WHICH MATTERS TO GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER, TOO. THEY'VE JUST ANNOUNCED THE NATION'S MOST GENEROUS INCENTIVES TO PUT BATTERY STORAGE INTO MORE VERMONT HOMES... WHETHER THEY HAVE SOLAR PANELS -- OR NOT. FOR CAROLE, IT CUT THE PRICE OF HER $9- THOUSAND PROJECT IN HALF. CAROLE MCCAY TC44:42 IT WAS AN EASY DECISION FOR ME ... SWIZZLE MARY POWELL/ CEO, GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER CORPORATION TC 47:32 FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE THIS IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING. BECAUSE IT REALLY IS ABOUT TRANSFORMING THE GRID. REALLY ABOUT MOVING TO A COMMUNITY AND HOME BASED ENERGY SYSTEM. 47:42 SHE SAYS IF THOUSANDS OF BASEMENT BATTERIES COULD SUPPLY A LITTLE ELECTRICITY TO THE GRID ON THOSE PEAK DEMAND DAYS, YOU'D NEED COSTLY OIL AND GAS FIRED PLANTS LESS OFTEN... RELEASE LESS CARBON, TOO. POWELL 11:50 WE'RE OBSESSED WITH COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE SWIZZLE STEWART LEDBETTER 5703 GMP HAS AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND THESE INCENTIVES TO THE NEXT 600 VERMONT HOMEOWNERS. IF THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESSFUL, AND THEY THINK IT WILL BE, THEY'LL ASK STATE REGULATORS FOR PERMISSION TO DO MANY MORE. 5715 BASEMENT TO END PROGRAM OPTIONS VARY - AND GMP HA POSTED INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE. IN HINESBURG, S.L. NBC-5-NEWS NOW FIRST

Green Mountain Power is offering big incentives to customers interested in home battery systems that prevent outages while helping to smooth out peak demand across the electric grid.Mary Powell, CEO of the state's largest electric utility, said that as more Vermonters embrace home battery systems, GMP will have to purchase less peak demand electricity that is often the most expensive and most carbon-intensive.Renewable Energy advocates joined Powell on Tuesday at a home in Hinesburg to show off one of the battery systems -- called Tesla Powerwall -- and explain how the incentives work. You can learn more about GMP’s program here.

HINESBURG, Vt. —

Green Mountain Power is offering big incentives to customers interested in home battery systems that prevent outages while helping to smooth out peak demand across the electric grid.

Mary Powell, CEO of the state's largest electric utility, said that as more Vermonters embrace home battery systems, GMP will have to purchase less peak demand electricity that is often the most expensive and most carbon-intensive.

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Renewable Energy advocates joined Powell on Tuesday at a home in Hinesburg to show off one of the battery systems -- called Tesla Powerwall -- and explain how the incentives work.